Receptacle for secondary batteries.



No; 655,883. Patentedmg. s4, |900. J. MmnLEBY, 1R. RECEPTACLE FORSECONDARY BATTERIES.

(Application Bled- Apr. 24, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l,

(No Model.)

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N0. 655,883. Patented Aug. I4, |900. J. MIDDLEBY, 1R. BEGEPTAGLE FOBSECONDARY BATTERIES.

(Application filed Apr. 24, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l2.

(No Model.)

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JOSEPH MIDDLEBY, JR., OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOGEORGE E. HATCH, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS.

RECEPTACLE FOR SECONDARY BATTERIES.

SFECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,883, dated August14, 1900.

Appiimiioii ined April 24,1900.

To @ZZ wir/0m t pta/y conceive:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH MIDDLEBY, J r., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Malden, in the county of Middlesex and StateofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inReceptacles for Secondary Batteries, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention is intended to provide a device by means of which asecondary battery may be carried by a motor-vehicle without danger ofbeing broken or otherwise injured by the violent shaking and jolting towhich such vehicles are often subjected while running.

My invention also relates to means for protecting the vehicle itselffrom being defaced or otherwise injured by the electrolyte used in suchbatteries in case it slops or is spilled from the cells thereof.

A preferred form of my invent-ion is illustratcd in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of thedevice, and Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Figs. 3 and 4i are sectionalviews similar to Fig. 1, showing slight modifications.

The receptacle shown in the drawings consists of a box 2, adapted tocontain any desired number of battery-cells and provided with a doublebottom, between the two portions of which is placed a pneumatic cushion3, conforming thereto in its general outline. The cushion 3 ispreferably made of rubber and is provided with a suitable valve 4,through which it may be inflated. Said cushion rests upon the truebottom of the box 2, and upon it is placed a false bottom 5, on whichthe cells 6 of the battery shown in dotted lines) rest and aresupported. The cells 6 are thus carried as by springs, sudden jars andvibrations imparted to the vehicle by which the battery is carried beingtaken up by the cushion 3 and wholly prevented from reaching andinjuring said cells. If desired, the falsebottom 5 may be omitted andthe cells may be set directly on the cushion 3, as shown in Fig. 3; butI prefer to use said false bottom, because it serves to distribute andequalize the resilient action of the cushion 3, so that a shock which iftransmitted directly to the battery might affect one cell only will beresisted by the combined inertia of all the cells and its effect SerialNo. 14,082. (No model.)

-will be correspondingly diminished. It will be obvious that the falsebottom 5 may itself form the true bottom of a receptacle adapted tocontain the cells 6, or, what is the same thing, the box 2 may besupported on the cushion 3, as shown in Fig. 4, and the latter may besupported on the false bottom 5 or its equivalent.

In order to prevent any electrolyte which may be spilled from the cells6 from leaking from the box 2, to the injury of the vehicle, I prefer toprovide a ap '7, extending upward from the edges of the cushion 3 andforming a continuous strip around the inside of the box 2. This flap 7is best made of the same material as the cushion 3 and formed integraltherewith, the top of the cushion being thus made to form a liquid-tightacidproof tray within which the cells 6 set and which serves to catchany liquid spilled] therefrom and to prevent it from leaking through thebox 2. I prefer to give the flap 7 such a height that the tray therebyformed will have sufficient capacity to hold the entire liquid contentsof a number of cells 6 in case one or more of them should accidentallybe broken while the vehicle is in use.

I claim as my invention* l. A receptacle for the cells of a secondarybattery, comprising a box adapted to contain said cells, and a pneumaticcushion on which said cells are supported, for the purpose set forth.

2. A receptacle for the cells of a secondary battery, comprising a boxprovided with a double bottom, and a pneumatic cushion located betweenthe parts of said bottom, for the purpose set forth.

3. A receptacle for the cells of a secondary batt-ery, consisting ofabox, a pneumatic cushion resting on the bottom of said box and providedWith an upwardly-extending flap forming with the top of said cushion animpervious tray, and a false bottom resting on said cushion within saidtray, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day ofApril., 1900.

JOSEPH MIDDLEBY, JR.

Witnesses:

E. D. CHADWICK, GEORGE E. HATCH.

